Jason Day has withdrawn from this week’s US PGA Tour event at Hilton Head in South Carolina after a minor flare up of his thumb injury.

A day after finishing tied 20th at the Masters, his first event following a seven-week layoff with a strain in his left thumb, Day decided to pull the pin on his scheduled next start.

With some minor discomfort and swelling becoming apparent after the Masters the 26-year-old decided to err on the side of caution and head back home to Ohio for a visit with his doctor.

“I have decided to withdraw, which is a shame, but it is important I check the thumb with my doctor,” Day said.

“I think it’s all good but after having to miss so long last time I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks.

“I am confident it won’t be a long term issue.”

Day has withdrawn from the World Golf Championship Cadillac Championship, the Arnold Palmer Invitational and now the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head this season.

He will now look ahead to next months lucrative Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

With players needing to play a minimum of 15 events each year Day may need to add further events to his schedule later in the year.

The world No.5 has competed in just four so far, winning the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship in February.